I took my MINI to the dealer today, and the service advisor stuck my key into some sort of pod-like device attached to his computer. He told me that my key contained information regarding my car like the VIN number and mileage as well as service intervals- and this pod reader actually downloads the info for him. Now I know the key has a chip in it, but I thought it was only a transmitter of a security code. Is what he is saying true? That the car downloads realtime information like mileage to the chip in the key? If that is true, I am impressed.
Hmm, maybe they should program these keys so that the car won't start if you don't have insurance- a common occurence where I live.

 

THe key has two 'subsystems' in it; the transmitter for the keyless entry/alarm system and a bidirectional 'chip'. The 'chip' is read by the car's computer to verify the key is being used to start the car (and not being hotwired). There is a code stored in the key that must match what the computer has in memory in order to allow starting. This chip also can store info from the computer. It generally stores the VIN, mileage, trouble codes and service intervals. These are read from the key by that 'pod' on the service manager's desk and saves time to have someone check mileages and codes with diagnostic equipment at the car. Pretty cool stuff. Even the black plastic 'valet' key has the bidirectional chip inside of it. The last key used in the car has the most current info.

 

Now THAT'S cool...

I've only used one of my 3 keys since I took delivery a year ago. If I take the car to the dealer for it's first scheduled service later this month and I use a key that I have never used before, then will the dealer be like "huh?". The key won't show any info on it, right?

 

Yep, if you pull up to the service center and hand them the spare key which hasn't been used in the car for a while, they will not have current mileage or other info. You can mess with their heads that way, but usually they will take the key and put it momentarily in the ignition and 'update' it.

 

That is of course, if your dealer uses this key reader....

I've never seen Sterling use it at all. Some flunkie just takes the keys from the service writer, starts up the car and gets that info for him...

 

Yeah that is pretty cool. My advisor told me that the key registers the mileage reading when it was last used, so if you bring in your car to the dealer with a rarely used spare key, the mileage reading collected by the pod device might actually be less than the mileage stored in the speedo. However, I am not sure if the car automatically updates the mileage on a key that has not been used frequently.

I think it is a fantastic tool for the service people. I think the device reader has just been implemented recently at dealers.

No wonder these keys are so expensive, so don't lose them!

 

BMW keys function in the same way. When I take the 328i into the BMW dealer, they use the same key reader.

I would expect that MINI dealers who share a service department with the BMW side were probably the ones to first use the key readers for MINIs.

 

The key for the MINI also has a rechargable battery in it.... I'm not joking.